Pentagon inspector general to investigate mishandling of Lloyd Austin's hospitalization

The Defense Department inspector general said Thursday that it will investigate the mishandling of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent secretive hospitalization.

In a memo, the inspector general said it will examine «the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense's hospitalization.»

Additionally, it said it will «assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership.»

The Pentagon has come under fire for not being more transparent about information regarding Austin's hospitalization and a communication lapse that left top Pentagon officials and the White House unaware of his condition for days.

The Pentagon inspector general said its investigation could expand in scope as it proceeds and that it «may identify additional offices and personnel who might have information relevant to our review.»

Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican in the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it was «good news» that the Pentagon's inspector general would be handling the investigation.

«We were very much concerned that this would be conducted by some of the very people who were involved in this absence of notice and so it is encouraging to me that we have that opportunity with the DoD inspector general to get to the facts here,» Wicker said at a news conference Thursday.

Wicker, who requested Wednesday that Pentagon officials involved in the communication lapse respond to his committee by Jan. 19 and answer questions, said «this is not a partisan issue.»

«We are thankful that nothing serious occurred